Recipe - King Cake No 1

2 pack (16 oz) Pillsbury hot woll
mix
1 Three fourths cup Granulated sugar
1 tablespoon Grated orange peel
1 tablespoon Grated lemon peel
4 Egg yolks; (from large eggs)
6 tablespoon Butter or margarine; melted
All purpose flour
1 Pecan half or one plastic
baby; (about the size of a
nickle)
1 One half teaspoon Ground cinnamon
3 cup Confectioners' sugar
One half cup Heavy cream
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Violet; green and yellow
paste food colors, or
green, yellow, purple {mix
red and blue} liquid food
color

1. Combine hot roll mix with yeast, 3/r cup granulated sugar and grated
peels in large bowl. Sir in egg yolks, 4 T melted butter (reserve the other
2) and 2 cups very hot tap water; turn dough out onto wellfloured work
surface. Knead dough 2 minutes until smooth; let rest, covered, for 5
minutes. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Roll dough out to 20 X 12inch
rectangle; brush with remaining 2 tbs. melted butter. Sprinkle One fourth cup
granulated sugar and cinnamon over dough. Fold dough lengthwise in half;
roll rolling pen lightly over dough to seal.

Cut dough into three lengthwise strips. Braid strips, starting at center
and working toward each end; do not seal strips at ends. Tuck pecan (or
baby) between two strips of braid to conceal. Place braid on lightly
greased cookie sheet, forming into oval with ends touching.

Brush ends of strips lightly with water; pinch opposing strip ends together
to form a continuous braid. Cover with kitchen towel; let rise in warm,
draftfree place 20 minutes until slightly puffed. Bake 10 minutes; reduce
oven temperature to 350 degrees F; bake 20 minutes longer until golden
brown, covering with foil for the last 5 minutes if it is becoming too
brown.

Note: If using a dark colored baking sheet, reduce oven temperature by 25
to 50 degrees and cook longer to avoid scorching the bottom of the cake.
Cool cake on rack. Meanwhile, beat confectioners' sugar, cream, and vanilla
in large bowl with mixer at medium speed until smooth. Pour frosting over
cooled cake, allowing it to run down the sides. Divide remaining Three fourths cup
granulated sugar amoung three small bowls; stir a different color paste
into each. Sprinkle colored sugars alternately over frosting. Makes 10 to
12 servings.

Posted to BakeryShoppe Digest V1 #499 by Lee Ann Hamm lhamm@premier.net
on Jan 10, 1998